Tim Cook is Back in China Meeting with Government Leaders

Marking his second visit to China since taking over as CEO of Apple, Tim Cook has apparently spent some portion of his trip meeting with government officials. While details of the meetings are not immediately clear, we can only assume Cook is looking to keep solid relations with the country producing and consuming a vital portion of Apple's products.

Cook met with Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology head Miao Wei on Tuesday, according to a post on the Ministry's site (via Bloomberg). Wei and Cook discussed the global communications industry, with a focus on further development in China.

Back in March of 2012, Cook visited China to tour a Foxconn manufacturing facility, the site of ongoing labor turmoil. Cook had previously visited the country as Apple's COO in 2010.

Apparently, Cook also took some time to meet with U.S. ambassador to China Gary Locke while in the country. A Twitter message from chief of staff Jim Sciutto at the U.S. Embassy (via Macworld) quoted the Apple CEO as stating the company's retail stores in China are the, "busiest in the world."

An admission that makes sense. Last month, the iPhone 5 debuted in China -- as well as other nations -- to great fanfare. Apple managed to move more than 2 million units of the device in only three days after launching in China.

"Customer response to iPhone 5 in China has been incredible, setting a new record with the best first weekend sales ever in China," said Tim Cook last month. “China is a very important market for us and customers there cannot wait to get their hands on Apple products."

Currently, Apple has given no indication as to the length of Cook's stay in China, or if the CEO intends to visit Chinese manufacturing facilities.